Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki

Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki

Police in riot gear arrest individuals that block the exit for participants of the "Free Speech Rally" on Boylston Street in Boston on Friday, August 19, 2017. Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki

Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki

Police in riot gear clash with protesters that block the exit for participants of the "Free Speech Rally" on Boylston Street in Boston on Friday, August 19, 2017. Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki

Credit: Chris Christo

Police arrest demonstrators on Boylston Street after freedom of speech speakers were transported from the Boston Common by police. August 19, 2017.

Credit: Chris Christo

Police arrest demonstrators on Boylston Street after freedom of speech speakers were transported from the Boston Common by police. August 19, 2017 Staff photo by Chris Christo

Credit: Chris Christo

Police arrest demonstrators on Boylston Street after freedom of speech speakers were transported from the Boston Common by police. August 19, 2017 Staff photo by Chris Christo

Credit: Chris Christo

Police arrest demonstrators on Boylston Street after freedom of speech speakers were transported from the Boston Common by police. August 19, 2017 Staff photo by Chris Christo

Credit: Chris Christo

Protestors assemble on the Boston Common in opposition to the freedom of speech rally. August 19, 2017 Staff photo by Chris Christo

Credit: Chris Christo

Police check the bag of a person entering the freedom of speech rally at the Parkman Bandstand. August 19, 2017 Staff photo by Chris Christo

Credit: Nancy Lane

Robin Travers, MD, of Arlington holds a flag with a peace symbol as she and thousands of others march from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

A man holds up a yellow rose as he an thousands of others march from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

Thousands march from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Thousands march from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

City Councilor Tito Jackson marches with thousands of others from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

Protestors chant as thousands march from Roxbury to the Boston Common in a counter protest the Free Speech rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

(Boston,MA 08/19/17) Boston police escort a Boston Free Speech Rally attendee through a crowd and into a police wagon in order to ensure his safety on Saturday,August 19, 2017 after the rally had ended. Staff photo by Patrick Whittemore.

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

A Confederate flag is burned on The Boston Common on Saturday,August 19, 2017. Staff photo by Patrick Whittemore.

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

An attendee at the Boston Free Speech Rally (L) gets yelled at while walking through a crowd at the end of the rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff photo by Patrick Whittemore.

Credit: Patrick Whittemore

An attendee at The Boston Free Speech Rally is escorted to safety by police at the end of the rally on Saturday, August 19, 2017. Staff photo by Patrick Whittemore.

Credit: Mark Garfinkel

Boston police officers escort a man away from the Common at the Boston Free Speech Rally. Staff photo by Mark Garfinkel

Credit: Mark Garfinkel

BUSTED: Boston police arrested 33 people during and after Saturday’s ‘Free Speech Rally,’ above and right. Arraignments begin tomorrow and include charges for public drinking and carrying a gun. Staff photo by Mark Garfinkel

Credit: Mark Garfinkel

An anti-Trump sign is seen at the protest on Boston Common. Staff photo by Mark Garfinkel

Credit: Jim Michaud

Tense moments as Boston Police whisk away a man who confronted other demonstrators. Saturday, August 19, 2017, at the Boston Common. Herald Photo by Jim Michaud

Credit: Jim Michaud

Protesters numbering in the thousands are kept away from the Free Speech Rally on the Bandstand, Saturday, August 19, 2017, at the Boston Common. Herald Photo by Jim Michaud

Credit: Jim Michaud

The Free Speech rally takes place on the bandstand as police kept the demonstrators away, Saturday, August 19, 2017, at the Boston Common. Herald Photo by Jim Michaud

Credit: Jim Michaud

Protesters get into a pushing match with police with bottles, cans ands liquids being thrown at police, after the freedom rally on Tremont Street in front of the Boston Common, Saturday, August 19, 2017, in Boston. Herald Photo by Jim Michaud

Credit: Jim Michaud

Counter protesters numbering in the thousands are kept away from the freedom rally, Saturday, August 19, 2017, at the Boston Common. Herald Photo by Jim Michaud

While the world looked on expecting the worst, Boston’s finest demonstrated the very best of our great city.

The local police officers who were faced with the daunting task of maintaining order while a sea of 40,000 protesters showed up to confront a few dozen so-called “alt-right” rallygoers demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in the face of an increasingly tense national political environment. But what else would we expect from our dedicated men and women in blue?

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